(NaturalNews) Military historians have said that the world stumbled into World War I, while it ran headlong into World War II. How will World War III begin?

It may have started already.

A few geopolitical observers think World War III began when the United States and much of the West launched military campaigns against militant Islam. Both President Bush and President Obama have warned the American people that the fight against radical Islam would take years to prosecute.

But what of the great powers ostensibly aligned against the West -- Russia, China and, as Sony Pictures Entertainment saw in recent days, North Korea? Are they preparing to take on the old world order aligned by and under the ultimate victor in the last world war?

Some people think so. A recent piece in The Week observed that, in recent months, the Chinese government has repeatedly appealed to the nation's military: "Be ready for war."

As reported by the news analysis site:

Over the last several months, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have repeatedly exhorted the People's Liberation Army to "be ready to win a war." Xi has repeatedly called for greater military modernization, increased training, and enhanced overall readiness of the Chinese army, navy, and air force.

These repeated calls have alarmed China's neighbors from New Delhi to Washington. The question on everyone's mind: what is all this preparation for?

Is the Chinese leadership preparing for something? Are they gearing up for a military operation, or merely the option to carry one out? Or is there a more innocent explanation for all of this?

Big geopolitical changes occurring

The real quote by President Xi, as reported by The Times of India, was an appeal to his military to be ready to win "a regional war," hinting that perhaps China has designs and ambitions closer to home (like "reuniting" Taiwan with the mainland, or taking the contested Spratly Island chain).

But nevertheless, such bellicose warnings always raise alarm bells -- among China's neighbors, of course, but also in Washington, since many of China's neighbors are either U.S. allies, American protectorates or both.

And this: As Russia's economy continues to tank due to low oil prices and West-imposed sanctions for Moscow's aggression in Crimea and Ukraine, China has offered to help Russia, with an eye toward weaning the world off the U.S. dollar as the global reserve currency.

Does all of this mean war? Not necessarily, but then again, a changing world order is necessary for one side to remain economically viable.

"The world is realigning. This is the big picture. China is getting stronger and stronger. Russia is in trouble," said Henry Blodget, co-founder, CEO and editor of Business Insider, as quoted by Yahoo Finance. "This idea that the U.S. and Europe control the whole world is starting to change."

Yahoo Finance further noted:

China and Russia are both trying to decrease dependence on the U.S. dollar in international trading. In October, the countries agreed on a $24 billion currency swap to strengthen the ruble and make trading easier between the two partners.

The Week, in its assessment, noted that Xi's appeal to the military could just as easily be an anti-corruption campaign. He is the first Chinese president in modern history that has committed to combating what is rampant corruption throughout most Chinese government operations, and that includes the Chinese military.

But it's hard to tell. And clearly, the geopolitical balance is beginning to shift.

European economies are stagnant or declining. The U.S. economy continues to grow, but at an anemic rate -- and almost in spite of government actions and regulations that have the effect of tempering growth. Also, wage growth among American workers is certainly not keeping up with growth in the stock market.

There are also concerns that North Korea, China or Russia could move to strike America's power, financial, communications and travel infrastructure -- all of which are controlled electronically.

Talk host Dave Hodges notes that what is coming could simply be retaliation, considering that the U.S. and the West have already committed what could be considered two acts of war against Russia:

First, the West has driven down the price of oil to such an extent that the Russians are being forced to tap into both their gold and oil reserves to keep their economy afloat. Further, there is a direct attack upon the Ruble by the West as Russia's financial liquidity was terminated in Western banks and all positions which have invested in the Ruble are being terminated by Wall Street and other investment firms.

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